<html><head></head><body>Wed, 16 May 2007 from: Micha Berger <micha@aishdas.org><BR><BR>On Wed, May 16, 2007 at 09:26:26AM +0100, R Yaakov Wise was helping<BR>RnSB translate "z"l" on Areivim and wrote:<BR>: Usually translated as ..."of blessed memory." Educated non-Jews all know<BR>: this expression - at least in the UK.<BR><BR>> Except that z"l stands for words meaning "may his/her memory be for<BR>a blessing." We are not blessing the memory, but acknowledging the<BR>memory is a source of blessing for us. <<BR><BR>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">Another (if not the only real, in this context) translation of “zecher†is “mention†(a /verbal/ remembrance, as in “zecher l’maaseh Breishis,†which halachah takes as an obligation to /speak/ of the Creation process over a cup of yayyin, or “zecher l’y’tzias Mitzrayim,†which entails /speaking/ about the exodus). Zechar Tsaddik L’bracha=“The mention of a tsaddik (which this person was) ought to evoke a blessing,†i.e., he (his soul) deserves good fortune,†or perhaps, "his blessed, positive accomplishments should be mentioned in conjunction with his name." The latter idea was taught by Rav Avigdor Miller, ztâ€l (whose yirass shammayim was stellar).<BR></P><BR>Zvi Lampel<BR><BR><br></body></html>